5 reasons why Manchester United can still win the Premier League

#5 City's Champions League distraction

The quest for the Champions League could prove to be a deadly distraction for Man City

Displaying the kind of form that’s become the envy of not just their Premier League rivals, but the whole of Europe basically, not only are observers expecting Man City to win the league title, but a lot of them also expect Pep Guardiola’s side to lift the Champions League trophy come the end of the season, too. It’s all well and good to make predictions, but it could prove to be a dangerous idea should City become fixated on winning Europe’s premier competition.

The Champions League is due to restart in February – a point where it’s unlikely that City will have sewn up the Premier League, assuming United don’t slip up majorly – and while the Sky Blues are matched with a relatively soft side in Basel, it’s easy to imagine a situation where they face off with a giant opponent in the Quarter-Finals. That could mean they become distracted by the pursuit of the Champions League, and take their eye off the ball in the domestic competition.

While it’s true that plenty of sides – like Real Madrid last season, or Bayern Munich in 2012/13 – have won both their domestic league and Champions League, only Manchester United – in 1998/99 and 2007/08 – have won both the Premier League and Champions League in the same season.

The Premier League is the most difficult league in the world to win, and both Chelsea and Liverpool’s Champions League winning sides only came 5th. While that kind of finish is unlikely for Man City, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they could become fixated on the Champions League – allowing United to slip past them to take the Premier League title.